Valeeian k



, UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALEBIAN K. JONES, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

L AST.

SPECIPICHATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,016, dated April 1, 1884.

Application filed October 29, 1883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALERIAN K. J ONES, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and Improved Last, of which the following, taken'in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

In manufacturing turn-shoes much annoyance and difficulty is experienced in getting accurate measurement. This difficulty arises from the fact that the buttons or lacing-studs, having been attached to the upper, bear upon the last and prevent the upper from fitting closely to the same, so that while it is easy to produce the proper-sized last it is more or less a matter of nice guessing to fit the upper thereto. ,To obviate this difficulty, the custom has grown up among some makers to finish the upper without any buttons or studs, then lasting, and afterward attach the buttons or studs. It is, however, far more convenient and economical to attach the buttons or studs beforelasting, and while the upper is being stitched; and -to produce means whereby an upper so finished may be lasted with certainty of accurate measurement is the object of this my invention.

The invention consists in a last having a recess or recesses formed in the surface thereof in position to receive and hold the studs or buttons on thelupper while the operation of lasting is being performed.

Figure 1 represents in side view a last embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar pear when entered therein.

(No model.)

The last A differs from an ordinary-last only in being provided with a slot or recess, B,

which recess is designed to receive the buttons attached to the upper, as fully illustrated in Fig. 2. Said recess should of course be sufficiently broad and deep to allow the buttons to enter therein completely, and thus permit the upper to'corne down closely to the last. Instead of a single groove or slot, 13, several independent cavities might be formed to coincide with and receive the buttons, as shown at B B, Fig. 3; but I prefer the single recess, arranged substantially as shown. The operation of lasting with this last is performed in the usual and customary manner of lasting turned shoes-that is, the upper having been first stitched and the buttons or lacingstuds properly attached, the whole is turned Wrong side out and drawnover the last. Care should be taken to have the buttons enter into the recess in the last, as fully shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the lasting process may go forward as usual. This arrangement allows the upper to come down to all parts of the last, and the exact measurement, as well as the peculiar form and style thereof, to be reproduced in the shoe.

I claim A last for boots and shoes, having a recess or recesses formed in the surface thereof upon the side, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in presence of two witnesses.

V. K. JONES.

Witnesses:

SEYMO R RUTH, O. B. TUTTLE. 

